An Ophthalmologist Explains 4 Ways to Avoid Foggy Glasses When Wearing a Face Mask

Adele Jackson-Gibson, Juliana LaBianca
·6 min read
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By now, many of us have been wearing face masks for a while. To the grocery store. To the park. To the office. But if you wear glasses, you might have noticed a pesky problem: wearing a face mask causes your glass lenses to fog up, especially in the colder weather. To make sure you can see clearly this winter, we've gotten to the bottom of why this happens, and have found some helpful tips to prevent your glasses from fogging while wearing a mask. We've even found the best face masks to prevent foggy glasses. Because when it comes down to it, wearing a face mask is important as it is one of the best things we can do to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Why do my glasses fog when I wear a face mask?

The science behind why our glasses fog when we wear a mask is fairly simple. As we wear our masks, warm breath escapes from the top of the mask and lands on the cooler lenses of our glasses. When that happens, it creates condensation, or fog. You might've noticed a similar effect when wearing glasses with a scarf or baclava in the winter, or when opening a hot oven door in a cool apartment.

So how do I prevent my glasses from fogging when I wear a mask?

The good news is that this problem is not new, and doctors and surgeons have found several ways to prevent foggy glasses. We've consulted Jason Brinton, M.D. an ophthalmologist and founder of Brinton Vision as well as Brad Brocwell, O.D., an optometrist and VP of clinical operations for Now Optics, on the best ways to keep your glasses clear.

  1. Improve the fit of your mask. Many medical masks feature a bendable metal strip that allows the wearer to mold the mask to their nose and cheeks. But you don't need a surgical mask to achieve a good fit. If you're making a homemade mask, Dr. Brinton recommends sewing a pipe cleaner or twist tie into the top of your mask. That way, you'll be able to fit the mask to your face more effectively. You'll also want to adjust your mask's straps or ear loops. When the mask fits properly, most of your breath should go through it, not out the top or sides. (Here are step-by-step instructions for wearing a face mask properly.)

  2. Tape your mask. Dr. Brinton says most doctors use tape to prevent foggy glasses while they work (and the glasses-wearing writer of this piece has also found this to be the most effective method for preventing fog). To DIY it, tape your mask across the bridge of your nose and across your cheeks. You can use most any type of tape, be it adhesive, medical, or athletic, just make sure you avoid duct tape. Test the tape on a different part of your body to ensure it doesn't irritate your skin.

  3. Pull your mask up. A simple way to decrease the amount of fog on your specs is to pull your mask higher on your face and use the weight of your glasses on top of the mask to block the flow of air. "Whether or not this works will depend on the shape and makeup of the glasses," says Dr. Brinton. He says this method is most effective with large, thick frames.

  4. Buy a better fitting mask. You can do all sorts of DIY tricks if you'd like, but nowadays there are so many companies making masks that fit better on people's faces. For example, "if you need a mask with a snug more secure fit, there are masks that have head straps instead of the normal around the ear straps," says Dr. Brocwell. "I would recommend one of those, especially if you are more active."

  5. Adjust your glasses. Place "your glasses to rest slightly over the mask to reduce the amount of warm air flow" that fogs up your lenses, says Dr. Brocwell. If you're finding that your glasses aren't sitting quite right, it may be time to see optician who can adjust your frames for a comfortably snug fit.

  6. Use a commercial anti-fog wipe or spray. "These can be very effective," says Dr. Brinton. "They can also be very expensive." Right now, a box of Foggies Anti-Fog Towelettes on Amazon costs $9.95 for a pack of 6. Keep in mind that anti-fog solutions may not work as well on glasses with certain coatings, such as anti-glare, anti-fingerprint, or anti-smudge, and so it's important to read the fine print on each product.

Will washing my glasses prevent them from fogging?

As more people struggle with foggy glasses, several home remedies have made the rounds, including treating glasses with soapy water. This solution may have some merit. A 2011 paper published by one British surgeon showed that washing glasses with soapy water and letting them air dry can help prevent fogginess. That's because the soap acts as a surface-active agent, or surfactant, and leaves behind a thin film that helps prevents fog.

"There isn't any really good data and there aren't any really good studies on these techniques," says Dr. Brinton, "but any substance that will leave a surfactant on there that will impede the condensation can be useful."

Anti-fog hacks to avoid using on your glasses

There are a lot of anti-fog hacks floating around the internet that supposedly help prevent lens condensation, and the people backing some of them aren't necessarily wrong.

For instance, wiping your glasses with shaving cream, baby shampoo, and toothpaste can leave that oh-so-useful surfactant on your lenses which can somewhat help to keep those lenses clear, according to Dr. Briton.

However, things like shaving cream, vinegar, shampoo and toothpaste, "can be harsh and abrasive to your lenses which can lead to scratches," says Dr. Brocwell. "Stick with anti-fog sprays and wipes. They are designed to be used on lenses and are more effective."

If you came across some tidbit that said you should clean your glasses with spit, don't do it. First of all, because: COVID-19 (as if you needed another reason not to wipe your glasses with bacteria-filled saliva). Second: there's no proof that saliva actually prevents fogging.

How to clean your glasses

In the case that your glasses do fog up and you want to clean them without ruining your lenses, here's how you should go about it according to Dr. Brocwell:

  1. Using a spray cleaner approved for glasses (and anti-reflective coating if that applies to your pair).

  2. Spray enough cleaner on the lenses to flush away any loose dirt or debris.

  3. Then using a clean, dry, microfiber cloth wipe your glasses dry.

Note that "it's important not to use any abrasive cleaner, like Windex, or paper towels to clean your glasses as they can cause scratching and or damage to your lens coatings," adds Dr. Brocwell.

Finding the right fit

At the end of the day, the key to preventing fogging is to figure out how to get your glasses and your mask to fit as securely (and as cozily) as possible to stop your breath from landing directly on your lenses. Anti-fog wipes and sprays can help, too. But remember: stay away from wiping your glasses with any anti-fog hacks that may wreck your lenses. Be kind to those $200 designer frames.

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